Softube Console 1 Mk 2

Hi!

I like this unit... coming from a strict "mouse and keyboard user" with Cubase 10 Pro... I never worked on a real big console so dont know how that feel, must feel better of course lol! But the Softube Console 1 mkII works great in Cubase, but I havn't tried other DAW's though.

In Cubase it integrates well with track numbers and names, etc. It's all automatic, no need to manually enter names and track numbers in the Cubase DAW mixer.

After watching YouTube videos and reading the manual (I recommend this!), then start with adding an instance of this plugin on the channels you want to use it on, or on every channel in the DAW mixer, even on Send-channels...

For example if you have recorded a whole song with like 8 drum channels, 2 bass guitar channels, 6 guitar channels and lets say 4 vocal channels, then also you might route those channels to group channels before they reach the master out (stereo out = last channel in the mixer), then you could add one instance of the Console 1 plugin on the first channel, lets say the kick channel.

Then pick a console emulation, lets say the default SSL or the British console emluation (Neve) or the American (API) or any of the others if you have them all (you need to pay for getting any of the extra console emulatations, besides the "SSL4ke" that comes free with the unit).

I have 3 console emulations and like them all (SSL4ke, British A class (Neve) and American A class (API)). They all sound great imo!

Then when picking your console emlualtion, then just copy that instance to the other channels (on all of them works great, wont take up too much cpu power imo).

Then just work with the input/output, filter, EQ, gate, sustain, compressor, drive, etc on the channels you want to process, the others can just have the plugin for color from the drive, "to make all channels glue together better sonically".

Other things, for example you can add a limiter instead of compressor, etc. It's very versitile imo and a lot of fun when you learn how to operate this! It's small enough to fit on your desk, etc. It give you that tactile feel + good old classic console emulations.

It has about everything except from reverb, delay, modulation and such things.

Köpte denna lite på vinst och förlust. Tänkte prova ifall det här med kontroller var något för mig. Det var det verkligen. Byggkvaliteten är väldigt gedigen och bra. Och ljudet i pluggen som följer med SSL 4000e är verkligen helt magiskt bra, dessutom drar den lite CPU.

Det går så mycket enklare och snabbare att mixa med denna. Det är bara att lägga en instans av pluggen först på varje kanal. Sedan kan man slänga bort musen och koncentrera sig på att mixa. Underbart! :)

Jag köpte Console1 för att dels "känna" ljudet och sedan för att kunna kontrollera 3d party plugins. Jag kan inte vara mer nöjd med mitt köp. Controllern är stabilt byggd och den känns bra under fingrarna. Den gör arbetssättet mer effektivt då jag kan utföra flera justeringar samtidigt. Jag slipper gå igenom min plugglista med 1 miljard pluggar för att välja eq och kompressor. Skönt att ha mindre valmöjligheter och förlita sig på sina öron och lära sig sitt verktyg 100%. Enda nackdelen jag ser hittills är att deras pluggar(add ons) kostar lika mycket som kontrollern kostade mig. Vill man förenkla sitt arbetsflöde och ha kul när man jobbar, så rekommenderar jag denna produkt.

This is a sensational product. If you can't mix "in the box" with this then you're in the wrong game. This controller gives you precision control for mixing - packaged with the best SSL 4000 emulation I've heard. The sounds and processing all come from the computer through your DSP, but the Console 1 makes the sound crystal clear and warm and you can change the character completely by swapping out the software expander, EQ or compressor sections with other kit. I use Universal Audio plugins already and now Console 1 gives me immediate, real-time hands on control of all the faders and knobs for most of my UAD favourites.

Even if you don't have acces to UA stuff, Softube has a whole bunch of other software processors and other channel strips available. But, as packaged, this gives awesome control and makes huge difference to any mix. It's so quick to use. I loaded it onto a 31-track song (and I'm only using a Mac Mini) and the processors ran fine.

I always wondered about the Console 1 - what is it really for? But when the price came down for the launch of the Mk 2 I thought, what the heck. I've been running a home studio for a couple of decades and I used to work in a music store, here in Edinburgh and so I thought I knew all there was to mixing on proper analogue desks. But I am blown away by this controller. I can't bring myself to tell you how much I've spent on other kit recently which this controller just replaces the need for!

The "Pros" are that: it speeds up workflow immensely cos all the controls for all your tracks are right there - no more squinting at the screen and trying to move the G/E knob with a mouse; everything you're doing is shown on screen right in front of you - you can see the compression shape and EQ cuts happen; it can be used to control UA plug ins; the SSL mixer emulation it comes with is a brilliant emulation of probably the best desk ever built; it males good mixes easy to get to, store and copy. It's really well built but does not take up too much desk space.

The only "Con" I've heard is that some people would have preferred to have a couple of faders on there two - but I got used to the knob straight away (especially with the fine-adjust function) so I don't miss a fader.

All DAWs will come loaded with EQ and compression plug-ins and maybe even an expander/gate. Some DAWs even have really good presets for individual drums, instruments and mixes. But getting hands-on control of all these things across all my tracks and the busses and Mix tracks has just shortened the time it takes to record, mix and pre-master my stuff by half. Plus - the controller gives me unbelievable sound sculpting opportunities. None of my DAWs have put all this together like this - the Console 1 lay-out even makes me think about using "drive" and "character" and "sustain" controls on everything!

I guess it's just a lot of fun to use. I should probably get back to it.